Improvement in devices for taking up the slack of lines



H. DOUGLAS.

Devices for Taking Up the Slack. of Lines.

, N0.157,197. Patented'Nov.24,1874

III-

lflllllli ii'iff wnnesszs: mvemm m: 6IA FNIC emmoro-urmnal u PARK rucniuf.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH DOUGLAS, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR TAKING UP THE SLACK OF LINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,197, dated November 21, 1874; application filed October 10, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH DOUGLAS, of the city and county of Dubuque, Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Device for Taking up Slack of Line, of which the following is a specification: V

In'the drawing, Figure 1 represents a top view of my improved device for taking up slack line, and Fig. 2 a side elevation of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of my invention is to produce for the purpose of stretching slack lines a portable device, by which the operation is performed easily and rapidly with less effort than in the common manner. The invention consists of a forked base-frame provided with a lateral stretching roller or drum, having side ratchets and a retaining pawl, to be operated by a lever with a pivoted pawl, the line being guided and secured when stretched by a pivoted double eccentric with lever-handle.

In the drawing, A represents the supporting base-frame, which is provided at its forked end with a revolving roller or drum, B, having side ratchets B for the retaining-pawl (J, and the pivoted pawl D of operating-lever D. A double eccentric, E, with handle E, is pivoted to uprights F of the solid tapering part of frame A, and may be readily swung to either side, as required for use.

The line or rope is passed between eccentric and frame, and wound around the drum; the lever and pawl are then applied to the drum, so that the turning of the same takes up the slack of the line, the eccentric allowing the sliding of the line in the direction of the drum, but binding it rigidly in the direction of the strain. The retainingpawl secures the position of the drum till the lever is swung back and the lever-pawl set again into the ratchet for the next stretching. The frame is supported on strong legs cast in one piece therewith, which are placed against a firm point of support for operating the apparatus in taking up the slack of the line.

Having thus described my invention, lclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent The device for taking up the slack of line, constructed of forked base-frame A, revolving drum B, with ratchcts B, retaining-pawl U, operating-lever D, with pawl D, and pivotedline-holding double eccentric E, all being arranged and applied substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

Witnesses: HUGH DOUGLAS;

G. A. POTTER, J. K. BENEDICT. 

